Duodenogastroesophageal Reflux; Relationship to PH and Importance in GERD

Abstract

The reflux of the duodenal bile content into the stomach, comp1ises a clinical problem and when suspected it requires a

confirmatory test. The establishment of the diagnosis has its influence on management strategies.

Mittal et a/., (1994) stated that "In this study hepatobiliary scintigraphy m 91 patients of different clinical conditions was eva luated for presence of duodenogastric refllLX. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was also perfonned in 44 of these patients. On scintigraphy duodenogastric reflux was present in 26 (29%) of 91 patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed presence of refluxed bile in the stomach in 12 (27%) of 44 patients. In the same groups of patients scintigraphy detected reflux in 18 (41%) of 44 patients. This shows that hepatobiliary scintigraphy is supe1ior to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in detection of duodenogastric reflux and also has the advantage of being non-invasive and physiological".